Your stay — AS Guest House
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The Property — AS Guest House
AS Guest House is a no-frills three-star in central Samarinda that feels more like a tidy boarding house than a hotel. The lobby is small and functional — a tiled reception desk, a couple of plastic chairs, and the faint buzz of the aircon struggling against the equatorial heat. It suits budget travellers and transit passengers who need a clean bed, a working shower, and a location near the city's main markets and ferry terminals, nothing more.
Chronicles of Samarinda
Samarinda began as a small Dayak settlement before becoming the capital of Dutch East Borneo in the 19th century, following the discovery of coal. The city boomed during the timber and mining eras, leaving it with a sprawling, utilitarian layout and a reputation as a rough-edged river port. Today it’s the largest city in Kalimantan Timur, still dominated by the Mahakam River and the lucrative coal trade, but also home to a growing middle class and a lively waterfront food scene. Culturally, it blends Malay, Dayak, Javanese and Chinese influences, visible in its mosques, temples and the daily hubbub of Pasar Pagi market.
Best Time to Visit
Full Samarinda guide →Best months
June to August: the dry season’s peak, with the least rain and relatively manageable humidity, good for river trips and city exploration.
Peak / festival surge
July is the busiest month due to the dry season and school holidays; hotel prices rise 20-30% and rooms book out early. There are no major festivals, but Independence Day (17 August) brings local parades and flag-raising events.
Budget shoulder season
April and September offer lower room rates and a drop in rainfall, though you’ll still get afternoon showers. September is particularly quiet after the school rush.
Weather & packing
Samarinda is hot and humid year-round — expect 30-33°C and high humidity every day. Pack light cotton clothes, a rain jacket or umbrella, and waterproof sandals; a foldable fan or cooling towel helps for walking in the midday sun.
Live City Briefing — Samarinda
- The Mahakam River ferry terminal is undergoing renovations until late 2026, so expect temporary jetty closures and longer waits for public boats to Tenggarong.
- A new bus rapid transit (BRT) line on Jalan Pahlawan started operations in early 2026, aiming to cut traffic congestion in the city centre.
- Several new food stalls opened along the riverbank near Kampung Arab, offering affordable grilled fish and local soto — a good budget option for travellers.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to AS Guest House, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on floors 4 or 5 at the back (non-street side) for better sleep quality and less traffic hum. These upper floors avoid both street-level noise and any service-area bustle on lower levels.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (street-level) and any front-facing rooms overlooking Jalan P. Antasari or main roads — Samarinda traffic can be heavy, especially with trucks and motorbikes. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft, which can hum or clunk at all hours.
Best views
Ask for a rear-facing room for a quieter outlook over surrounding low-rise neighbourhoods or a small garden. Front-facing rooms give you Samarinda street life, but with constant traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 4–5 are typically quietest, as they're above street din and below any roof equipment or lift motor room.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on a main road in Samarinda, so expect motorbike, truck, and bemo (minibus) noise from dawn till late evening. Also watch for prayer call amplification from nearby mosques, common in this city.
Insider tips
1) Arrive after 2pm check-in for better chance at a back-facing room — front-facing rooms are often assigned first. 2) The hotel has limited parking; ask about their off-street parking arrangement when booking, as street parking is hectic.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — AS Guest House
free Wi-Fi for all guests; average 15 Mbps download; login via room number and name
single lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
no physical newspapers; free access to local digital news via browser bookmark on lobby computer
14:00–22:00 standard; early bag drop from 11:00 if room not ready; late check-out until 14:00 charged IDR 100,000, after 14:00 full night
free for day of check-in/out; longer storage negotiable at front desk
step-free entrance from street; lift to all floors; one accessible room on ground floor with wider door; no grab bars in standard bathrooms
on-site courtyard parking for 6 cars free on first-come basis; public parking at Lapangan Merdeka (IDR 5,000/hour, 24-hour max IDR 30,000) 400m away; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% service charge plus 11% government tax on room rate (included in most booking totals; ask at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required for bookings via phone; IDR 200,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: MUSHALLA AL-AMIN (51 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Gereja Advent (265 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: MUSHALLA NURUL HUDA (267 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid al-Khairiyah (375 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plaza Mulia — 809 m · ~10 min walk
taman gatsu simpang tiga — 618 m · ~8 min walk
Museum Samarinda — 977 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ATM BNI — 931 m · ~12 min walk
Apotek Murni — 450 m · ~6 min walk
Swalayan 88 — 649 m · ~8 min walk
Halte Lembuswana — 2.6 km · ~32 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Use bank ATMs for best rates; avoid money changers at the airport or tourist bureaux as they offer poor rates and high fees.
Cards accepted in mid-range hotels and larger shops, but most local warungs, street vendors, and transport prefer cash.
Not expected; rounding up the bill or leaving small change is appreciated for good service in restaurants and taxis, but hotel staff do not expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local kopi tubruk (strong ground coffee with sugar) from a street-side stall or warung kopi costs about 5,000-8,000 IDR.
A nasi campur (rice with side dishes) or ayam bakar (grilled chicken) at a local warung costs about 15,000-25,000 IDR.
A simple hearty bowl of soto or mie ayam at a street stall costs around 15,000-20,000 IDR.
Kampung Pulo or along Jalan Pramuka have clusters of evening sate and jajan pasar stalls; also the Samarinda waterfront night market for soto and nasi goreng.
Hypermart or Superindo are common budget supermarkets in Samarinda.
Pasar Pagi or Pasar Segiri for cheap local wear and batik; market haggling expected.
Angkot (shared minibus) costs 4,000-5,000 IDR per ride; from Samarinda Airport (SRI), take a DAMRI bus to town (about 20,000 IDR) rather than a taxi.
Eat at warung and street stalls rather than restaurants. Use angkot or ride-hailing apps (Gojek/Grab) rather than taxis. Buy bottled water in bulk from Indomaret/Alfamart.
Good to know — Samarinda
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 18071.15 · IDR
Emergency Contacts
SamarindaWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Samarinda, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at AS Guest House
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ATM BNI — 931 m · ~12 min walk — pharmacy · Apotek Murni — 450 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto Airport (AAP) → Hotel Crystal (Jalan Bung Tomo)
💡 Ignore touts inside the terminal. Walk to the official AP I counter just past baggage claim. The fare is fixed—no haggling. For a cheaper ride, step outside the airport gate and flag a passing 'angkot' (public minibus) to Loa Janan, then switch to another angkot toward the city centre; total cost under 15,000 IDR but expect 60–90 minutes.
Anywhere in Samarinda (including Hotel Crystal gate) → Anywhere in Samarinda (airport, mall, port)
💡 Gojek is more available than Grab in Samarinda. For the airport, book a 'GoCar' and the app shows the fare—drivers often ask for extra cash at the gate; refuse politely. If your phone signal is weak, use the hotel's WiFi to book.
Terminal Sungai Dama → Jalan Bung Tomo (near Hotel Crystal)
💡 Yellow angkot route runs along Jalan Bung Tomo. Wave it down, don't expect stops. Hand your fare to the driver through passengers—they pass it forward. The ride is cramped but safe. Great for short hops; avoid during rain as windows stay open.
Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto Airport (AAP) → Samarinda Central Bus Terminal (Terminal Sungai Dama)
💡 Damri drops you at the bus terminal, not the hotel. From Terminal Sungai Dama, take an angkot (yellow route) to Jalan Bung Tomo—tell the driver 'Hotel Crystal'. Last angkot leaves around 21:00. Have small change ready.
About Samarinda
Wikipedia ↗Borneo Football Club Samarinda, commonly known as Borneo Samarinda or also Borneo, is an Indonesian professional football club based in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The club currently competes in Super League. The club's nickname is Pesut Etam (Our Dolphins). Borneo Samarinda has won one Liga 2 leagu...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at AS Guest House?
Request rooms on floors 4 or 5 at the back (non-street side) for better sleep quality and less traffic hum. These upper floors avoid both street-level noise and any service-area bustle on lower levels.
Which rooms should I avoid at AS Guest House?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (street-level) and any front-facing rooms overlooking Jalan P. Antasari or main roads — Samarinda traffic can be heavy, especially with trucks and motorbikes. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft, which can hum or clunk at all hours.
Is AS Guest House noisy?
The hotel sits on a main road in Samarinda, so expect motorbike, truck, and bemo (minibus) noise from dawn till late evening. Also watch for prayer call amplification from nearby mosques, common in this city.
Which rooms have the best views at AS Guest House?
Ask for a rear-facing room for a quieter outlook over surrounding low-rise neighbourhoods or a small garden. Front-facing rooms give you Samarinda street life, but with constant traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at AS Guest House?
1) Arrive after 2pm check-in for better chance at a back-facing room — front-facing rooms are often assigned first. 2) The hotel has limited parking; ask about their off-street parking arrangement when booking, as street parking is hectic.
What time is check-in at AS Guest House?
Check-in at AS Guest House is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does AS Guest House have Wi-Fi?
free Wi-Fi for all guests; average 15 Mbps download; login via room number and name
Is there a city or tourist tax at AS Guest House?
10% service charge plus 11% government tax on room rate (included in most booking totals; ask at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near AS Guest House?
A nasi campur (rice with side dishes) or ayam bakar (grilled chicken) at a local warung costs about 15,000-25,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from AS Guest House?
Angkot (shared minibus) costs 4,000-5,000 IDR per ride; from Samarinda Airport (SRI), take a DAMRI bus to town (about 20,000 IDR) rather than a taxi.
When is the best time to visit Samarinda?
June to August: the dry season’s peak, with the least rain and relatively manageable humidity, good for river trips and city exploration.
Top Attractions in Samarinda
💡 Visit on a Sunday morning when local musicians often busk near the fountain. Avoid midday heat; shade is limited.
💡 Go early morning (6-7am) to see the floating fruit sellers. Bring water and sun protection; no shade for long stretches.
💡 Try the pisang goreng (fried banana) from the stall near the main entrance. Arrive by 7am to see the market at its most active. Watch for uneven floors and wet patches.
💡 Go at sunset for the view from the minaret. Wear a headscarf and long sleeves; modest clothing is required. Bring ID for the elevator to the top.
💡 It takes about 45 minutes to see everything. Ask the guard to turn on the lights in the less-visited rooms. Closed for lunch 12-1pm.